6 research outputs found
Histological and ultrastructural evaluation of the early healing of the lateral collateral ligament epiligament tissue in a rat knee model
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In this study, we evaluated the changes which occurred in the epiligament, an enveloping tissue of the ligament, during the ligament healing. We assessed the association of epiligament elements that could be involved in ligament healing.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty-two 8-month old male Wistar rats were used in this study. In twenty-four of them the lateral collateral ligament of the knee joint was surgically transected and was allowed to heal spontaneously. The evaluation of the epiligament healing included light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At the eight, sixteenth and thirtieth day after injury, the animals were sacrificed and the ligaments were examined. Our results revealed that on the eight and sixteenth day post-injury the epiligament tissue is not completely regenerated. Till the thirtieth day after injury the epiligament is similar to normal, but not fully restored.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study offered a more complete description of the epiligament healing process and defined its important role in ligament healing. Thus, we provided a base for new strategies in ligament treatment.</p
Ultrastructural changes in the synovial membrane in experimentally-induced osteoarthritis of rabbit knee joint
Rabbit knee joint osteoarthritis was
induced by intraarticular injections of a 10% sterile
NaCl solution. Within 30 days the synovial membrane
had undergone hyperplasia resulting in activated
synovial fibroblasts. Transitional forms of synoviocytes
as well as activated synovial macrophages were a very
common finding. At 60 days a thickening of the
synovial intima was perceptible. Most of the
synoviocytes were of the fibroblast type. Transitional
cell forms abounded. An increase in collagen fibres
and capillaries of the fenestrated type occurred in the
intercellular spaces. In the deep layer collagen bundles
had formed between which activated fibroblasts and
macrophages were noticed. The described changes
point to an active participation of the synovial
membrane in the destruction of articular cartilage in
osteoarthritis